- Section 1 The development of the discipline of public health
- Section 2 Determinants of health and disease
- Section 3 Public health policies, law, and ethics
- Section 4 Information systems and sources of intelligence
- Section 5 Epidemiological and biostatistical approaches
- Section 6 Social science techniques
- Section 7 Environmental and occupational health sciences
- Section 8 Major health problems
- 8.1 Epidemiology and prevention of cardiovascular disease
- 8.2 Cancer epidemiology and public health
- 8.3 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma
- 8.4 Obesity
- 8.5 Physical activity and health
- 8.6 Diabetes mellitus
- 8.7 Public mental health and suicide
- 8.8 Dental public health
- 8.9 Musculoskeletal disorders
- 8.10 Neurological diseases, epidemiology, and public health
- 8.11 Infectious diseases and prions
- 8.12 Sexually transmitted infections
- 8.13 HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
- 8.14 Tuberculosis
- 8.15 Malaria
- 8.16 Chronic hepatitis and other liver disease
- 8.17 Emerging and re-emerging infections
- 8.18 Bioterrorism
- Section 9 Prevention and control of public health hazards
- Section 10 Public health needs of population groups
- Section 11 Public health functions
(p. 1192) Emerging and re-emerging infections
- Chapter:
- (p. 1192) Emerging and re-emerging infections
- Author(s):
David L. Heymann
and Vernon J. M. Lee
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199661756.003.0217
Infectious organisms reproduce, mutate, and cross the species barrier between animals and humans, resulting in epidemics and pandemics. The entire world is susceptible to these diseases that know no boundaries, and their impact on communities go far beyond the direct health outcomes to affect the economy and society as a whole. This chapter discusses factors that influence the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases including weak public health infrastructure; failure of safety procedures and regulations; population shifts including rapid population increases and uncontrolled urbanization; anthropogenic activities and climate change; civil disturbance, human displacement, and natural disasters; human behaviours; and deliberate use of infective agents. To address this threat, national and international disease management systems have to be strengthened, and networks built to facilitate cross-border and multisectoral collaboration.
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- Section 1 The development of the discipline of public health
- Section 2 Determinants of health and disease
- Section 3 Public health policies, law, and ethics
- Section 4 Information systems and sources of intelligence
- Section 5 Epidemiological and biostatistical approaches
- Section 6 Social science techniques
- Section 7 Environmental and occupational health sciences
- Section 8 Major health problems
- 8.1 Epidemiology and prevention of cardiovascular disease
- 8.2 Cancer epidemiology and public health
- 8.3 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma
- 8.4 Obesity
- 8.5 Physical activity and health
- 8.6 Diabetes mellitus
- 8.7 Public mental health and suicide
- 8.8 Dental public health
- 8.9 Musculoskeletal disorders
- 8.10 Neurological diseases, epidemiology, and public health
- 8.11 Infectious diseases and prions
- 8.12 Sexually transmitted infections
- 8.13 HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
- 8.14 Tuberculosis
- 8.15 Malaria
- 8.16 Chronic hepatitis and other liver disease
- 8.17 Emerging and re-emerging infections
- 8.18 Bioterrorism
- Section 9 Prevention and control of public health hazards
- Section 10 Public health needs of population groups
- Section 11 Public health functions